Car heater



March 17, 1936. w DARRAH ET AL 2,034,228

CAR HEATER Filed May 2'7, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l March 17, 1936. Q w DARRAH AL 2,034,228

CAR HEATER Filed May 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 \a a N a Q M N March 17, 1936. c, w DARRAH ET AL CAR HEATER Fil y 2 1935 7 s sheets-sheet s Patented Mar. 11, 1936 I I 2,034,228

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR HEATER Carl W. Dari-ah and Frank M. Hardiman, Lockport, N. Y., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application May 27, 1935, Serial No. 23,624

10 Claims. (Cl. 257--137) This invention relates to heating apparatus radiator header to discharge the water, which and more particularly to distribution of heat has flown through the heater, back to the cold from heaters in motor cars. part of the circulating system. The heater per It is usual in the present form of motor car se is formed of an outer casing 30, generally in heaters to have some source of heated air adthe shape of a cylinder with two flattened sides. 5 jacent the dash board of a car and a fan for The rear portion of this outer casing has aseries propelling that heated air out at right angles to of holes 32 surrounding the periphery which act the dash into the car. These heaters are as air inlets. Adjacent the rear end of the casing mounted at some distance above the floor of the is secured an angular bracket member 34 to car and as the heat tends to rise it leaves a cold which are secured bolts 36, which pass through 1 area near the floor which makes it uncomfortable the dash board I8, and a backing plate 38 to sefor the feet ofthe' driver and passengers as they cure the heater on the dash by means of nuts get practically no heat. 40. On the interior of the casing, and also car- It is therefore an object of our invention to ried by the same bolts, is an electric motor 42 provide a heater distributing heat for the floor which drives the propeller fan 44 for circulating 5 area. air therethrough. Secured within the casing,

It is a-further object of our invention to prosubstantially between its two extremities, is the vide means for regulating the percentages, of the radiating or heating element 46 to which the total heat distributed, which are directed downinlet and outlet pipes 22 and 26 are connected.

2o wardly and outwardly as desired. 7 Immediately to the rear of the radiating element With these and other objects in view, which 46, and surrounding the propeller means 44, is a will become evident as the specification proceeds, circular fan housing 48 which assists in directing our invention will be better understood from the the air through the radiating element. The following specification wherein there are decasing extends at considerable distance ahead of o5 scribed the embodiments of our invention, which the radiator element 46 to form compartment Ill are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in and the lower flat surface 48 has a'series of air which, directing louvers 50 and the lower portion of each Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward porof the side surfaces have louvers 5| cut therein tion of a motor car showing our heater in posito direct the air both downwardly and slightly tion, parts being shown in section. to each side. Upon the front of the casing is Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the heater alone, mounted a ring member 52 which is securely parts being broken away. fastened thereto and which supports an orna- Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through mental ring 54 by suitable screws 56. Within the the heater taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4. compartment 10 and extending from top to bot- 5 Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through tom are two side plates 12 which form a recthe heater 011 line of tangular inner chamber with the top and bottom Fi 5 is a sectio a v w ta en o the line of the casing. The forward portions of these side 5-5 of Fig. 3. plates are bent at right angles to lie parallel to A motor having a frame Supports-at its the rear face of ring 52 and are secured thereto 0 forward a motor and a radiator 5 with by suitable screws 14. The plates are then bent its surroundingshell 8. The radiator has its parallel to the main portion t lje'adjacent the upper radiator header l0 connected by the concasing side walls, as shown at 5, 'pgrtidns ventional hose connection I! to the water circuof the two are pressed out interlock, as t 1 mung System in the top of the motor head The The opening in the forward portion of the ornalower radiator tank I4 is also connected to the mental ring is Substantially rectangular and two water circulating system of the motor block by a doors 5a are pivotany supported on the mtumed conventional hose connection l6. Directly bet l bind the motor is the dash panel l8 upon which a i of firs 2 32; 2: the heater, designated generally at 20, is be m e m 3 t l f g; f

mounted, which heater comprises the substance, various 2 3: h i w t 13 a: 01 1: mm;

of our invention. The inlet tube 22 of the heater the from o 3 ea 1 n e 9 par is connected, by suitable piping 24, t t of the compartment, ahead of the radiating elemotor head to cause the hot water therefrom to ment 46 and Ju behmd t Ornamental e circulate to the heater. The outlet pipe not the 5 is rigidly pp d a ed baflle member 62 55 heater is also connected by pipe 2! to the lower extending between the side plates 12 and which 55 pivotally supports at its upper extremity an extension baflle 64, which may be set in any desired position to regulate the forward flow of air. The central portion of the extension baiile 64 adjacent its pivotal point has an integral forwardly extending lip 68 which projects toward the forward portion of the casing and may be used to regulate the position thereof. Openings 80 are provided in the lower portions of the side plates 12 to allow air to flow to the louvers 5|.

The operation of the heater is as follows: Air is drawn in through the openings 32 in the rear of the casing by the fan member 44 through the fan housing 48 and through the heat radiating surfaces of the radiating element 46 into the forward chamber 10. The air coming through the lower portion of the radiator 46 strikes first the baflle 62 and is discharged either through the louvers 50 in the bottom of the compartment 10 or through the louvers 5| in the lower side portions thereof. The air going through the top portion of the radiator 46 goes through the top of the compartment Hi and out through the forward doors 58, the amount passing through the doors of course being conditional upon the amount the doors are opened. Considering that the doors 58 are wide open and the bailie. in the position shown in the full lines in Fig. 3, approximately 50 per cent -of the air will be directed forwardly and 50 per cent downwardly. If the movable extension 64 is moved down to the dotted line position, shown at 64', per cent of the'air will be discharged forwardly and the remainder down, while if the extension 64 is moved to the dotted line position 64" approximately 75 per cent of the'air will be discharged downwardly and only 25 per cent forwardly. Of course it will be evident if the forward doors are closed tightly all of the air will be discharged downwardly. With this type of structure air is discharged directly on the floor boards in the forward portion of the front compartment and therefore eliminates the cold spot occasioned by most heaters at this locality. Due to the side louvers 5| air is directed toward the driver's feet as well as directly down upon the feet of the passenger occupying the right-hand seat. In this way the air can be controlled so that the passengers are comfortable in cold weather by having any required amount directed toward their feet and also-a given amount directed toward the upper portion of the body so that they will be comfortable.

Although we have here illustrated the device as being used with hot water heaters, it is evident that the same might be used with a hot air or steam heater to the same advantage therefore the invention should not be limited to the present showing. It might also be noted that without either the rigid or adjustable baille, with openings in the lower portion of the casing and with the closure of the doors, a certain amount of heat would be directed downwardly. We have therefore devised heat distributing means within the heater casing for distributing the air to different parts of the automobile body to prevent cold spots, and thus give more comfortable i We claim:

1. In a heater, a casing, a heating element supported within the casing, air propelling means supported within the casing to force air through the heating element, and openings in a plurality of the faces of the casing at right angles to each other ahead of the heating element whereby air may be distributed in different directions therefrom.

2. In a heater, a casing, a heating element supported within the casing, air propelling means supported adjacent the heating element to force air therethrough, openings in a plurality of the faces of the casing at right angles to each other ahead of the heating element and means therein to direct the flow of air from different openings.

3. In a device of the class described, a confined flow of heated air in a casing, means to discharge the air from the casing in a plurality of different directions and means to regulate the percentage of the whole flow that is directed in the diiferent directions, said last named means including closure members and flow directing members supported within the casing.

4. In a heater, a casing, a source of heated air under pressure'within the casing, louvers in the lower face of the casing adjacent the front, an opening in the front of the casing allowing the air to be discharged horizontally, a baille to direct a portion of the air downwardly through the louvers in the lower face and pivoted doors to regulate the flow of air from the front of the casing.

5. In a heater, a casing, .a source of heated air under pressure in the casing, a plurality of openings in different faces of the casing, a rigid baflle secured to the casing between the openings to direct air from one set of openings and an adjustable extension on the end of the rigid baille whereby the bailling effect maybe regulated.

6. In a heater, a casing, a sourceof heated air under pressure in the casing, an opening in the front face of the casing, pivoted doors to act as closure members for the opening, a series of louvers in the lower face of the casing adjacent the front, a rigid baiile secured to the casing between the front and the louvers for directing the air downwardly through the latter, an adjustable extension pivotally mounted on the end of the rigid bailie whereby by moving it to different positions more or less air is directed downwardly through the louvers and out through the the other flow directing means within the easing whereby the percentages of air flow from the diiferent faces of the casing may be controlled.

8, In a heater having a casing, a radiating element and a forced draft means, an opening in the forward face of the casing for discharging air, a plurality of pivoted doors for the opening to regulate theflow of air therefrom, and a series of louvers in the lower face of the casing adjacent the front whereby the position of the doors will dictate the amount of air passing from the louvers.

9. In a heater having a casing. radiating element and forced draft means, an opening in the forward face of'the casing for discharging air, a plurality of pivoted doors for the opening, a;- series of louvers in the lower portion cfliaasing adjacent the doors, a rigid baille the casing and an adjustable extensioif bn the battle whereby the doors, rigid and adjustable baffies regulate the mounts of air discharged outwardly and downwardly.

10. In a heater having a casing, a source of heated air under pressure in the casing, an opening in the front face of the casing, louvers in the lower and side faces 01 the casing adjacent the front and means carried by the casing to direct and apportion the flow of air through the dlfierent passages whereby heated air may be discharged elther forwardly, downwardly or to the sides.

CARL W. DARRAH. FRANK M. HARDIMAN. 

